Shy Dovii

[ClaustrophobicTurtle]

Hey guys, first post

I have owned several Africans, Oscars as well as the typical tropicals.

Today I bought a Dovii roughly 3 inches.
I have never seen such a shy fish in my life.
There is driftwood and stones in the tank as well as sand substrate.

Basically the same setup as my Oscar tank had, and the oscars thrived.

I presume it is just because the Dovii is getting used to the Surroundings, but I've never seen it to this extent.. it hasnt left from hiding under the driftwood all day

It's in the tank alone btw.

Anyone have any experience with this/perhaps a 'common' time frame for how long Doviis may stay shy for?

I'm really worried something is wrong with it (my parameters are all correct).

Thanks so much!

 

[predatorkeeper87]

its a 3 inch fish in a new place. Give it time. From what I've seen dovii open up into the aholes nature intended them to be at like 5-6 inches but every fish is different.

What size tank you gonna keep that beast in?

 

[ClaustrophobicTurtle]

its a 3 inch fish in a new place. Give it time. From what I've seen dovii open up into the aholes nature intended them to be at like 5-6 inches but every fish is different.

What size tank you gonna keep that beast in?

Thanks so much for the reply
I will wait it out then!
Its in a 48x18x18, but that will be just until he hits about 6-7inches. then moving it to a larger one (which i'll buy soon. recommendations?).

Would you say 6-7 inches is about right to move it to a larger or earlier?

 

[predatorkeeper87]

Thanks so much for the reply
I will wait it out then!
Its in a 48x18x18, but that will be just until he hits about 6-7inches. then moving it to a larger one (which i'll buy soon. recommendations?).

Would you say 6-7 inches is about right to move it to a larger or earlier?

my recommendation is buy at least a 300 gallon now. If its a male he'll need at least that, and I wouldn't keep a female in much smaller conditions than that.

Big open water predator, big swimming area, big attitude.

I'd say maybe around the 10 inch mark you could step him/her up to the new tank.

 

[tlindsey]

Hey guys, first post

I have owned several Africans, Oscars as well as the typical tropicals.

Today I bought a Dovii roughly 3 inches.
I have never seen such a shy fish in my life.
There is driftwood and stones in the tank as well as sand substrate.

Basically the same setup as my Oscar tank had, and the oscars thrived.

I presume it is just because the Dovii is getting used to the Surroundings, but I've never seen it to this extent.. it hasnt left from hiding under the driftwood all day

It's in the tank alone btw.

Anyone have any experience with this/perhaps a 'common' time frame for how long Doviis may stay shy for?

I'm really worried something is wrong with it (my parameters are all correct).

Thanks so much!

Welcome aboard

 

[ClaustrophobicTurtle]

my recommendation is buy at least a 300 gallon now. If its a male he'll need at least that, and I wouldn't keep a female in much smaller conditions than that.

Big open water predator, big swimming area, big attitude.

I'd say maybe around the 10 inch mark you could step him/her up to the new tank.

10inch mark sounds good more time to save up haha.

300Gallon is massive. would that be about a 8x2.5x2.5?

 

[predatorkeeper87]

10inch mark sounds good more time to save up haha.

300Gallon is massive. would that be about a 8x2.5x2.5?

ya roughly that haha, I have a 7x3 in my living room, huge tank but it'll look small as hell with a two foot male dovii in it.

 

[duanes]

Because oscars have been kept and bred in aquariums for many decades, they have become the fish equivalent to domestic dogs. Even Africans have a long history of domesticity.
Dovii on the other hand are a recent addition to the hobby in any real commercial sense, and still carry the natural intelligence and instinct of a wild fish to a far greater degree. In nature birds, reptiles and humans are their most common enemies, so if they are not wary (shy) they end up someones dinner. Once it dumbs down and realizes it is a captive and you are its jailer, it will bolden up. And at 3 inches they are preyed on by everything from turtles to kingfishers, so their predatory confidence doesn't normally show up until they are much larger and become the apex predatory themselves.

 

[dan518]

If you can go out and buy another 5 juvis it will help them settle a bit better and ensure you get a male, or a pair if that's what you want. A 8 by 2.5 foot print would work well.

 

[ClaustrophobicTurtle]

Because oscars have been kept and bred in aquariums for many decades, they have become the fish equivalent to domestic dogs. Even Africans have a long history of domesticity.
Dovii on the other hand are a recent addition to the hobby in any real commercial sense, and still carry the natural intelligence and instinct of a wild fish to a far greater degree. In nature birds, reptiles and humans are their most common enemies, so if they are not wary (shy) they end up someones dinner. Once it dumbs down and realizes it is a captive and you are its jailer, it will bolden up. And at 3 inches they are preyed on by everything from turtles to kingfishers, so their predatory confidence doesn't normally show up until they are much larger and become the apex predatory themselves.

thats good to hear. Cant wait for the predator within to shine